Domenica struggled all the more when her gaze landed on the improvised weapon, gargling hideous curses. Claudia was no stranger to blood, to violence, and yet she found herself hesitating, wanting more. Nothing would give succor to her fury, to her grief; she doubted this thing in the guise of a woman would understand any question she put to her.

At Vlad's urging, Claudia turned the stake in hand for an overhand grip, and came for the vampire. She seized her by the front of her filthy, ancient dress, snagging in her golden hair, and drove the point of the wooden stake into Domenica's chest with a grunt of effort.